I agree with the above about luggage selection. I've owned LOTS of luggage and by lots of companies and I swear by Kipling...kipling.com...for a store nearest you. Their selection is outstanding.Plus the colors are great so it's easy to identify your luggage at the airport. As for Tumi...expensive...but check the T.J.Maxx stores and the T.J.Maxx and More stores if you decide to go that way. I bought, at T.J.Maxx and More in Chino Hills...L.A. County, the large-sized,26-inch(?) black Tumi suitcase for my mom for just $212. just last year.I also bought some of my Kipling at T.J.Maxx,too. I got two, wheeled, bags...one regularly priced at $218 and the other at $178. for $49.99 each bag. My best friend bought all of her Kipling there,too. There was a lot of it. This was in 2002, but I've seen pieces since. Happy Travels!

I'm interested to know if there's an airline with a baggage allowance greater than 20 kg. In the Dark Ages (30+ years ago) the standard adopted by all IATA member airlines was 20kg (from memory 30kg for first-class pax).

Does anyone know if airlines still offer a "baggage as cargo" option? It used to be that you could send excess baggage at 50% of the under-45 kg cargo rate. No guarantee that it would go on the same aircraft as you, of course, and you had to lodge and pick up your stuff at the airline's cargo depot.

My wife & I just got back from Brisbane and checked a total of three bags weighing 28, 24 & 23 kg. It's amazing how much Bundy Rum & Tim Tams weigh! Qantas didn't give us a second look.

When we got to LA and checked in on American, they were about to yell at us until they saw me ripping the BNE - LAX tag off our suitcases. The agent asked if we had just come from overseas. We said yes and she said we'd be ok since international is allowed 70 lbs per case.

A small footnote...we filled out the little customs card and were honest about all the liquor we were bringing in. We also had coffee, teas, wood & leather products. Furthermore, we just visited the Ekka (like a state fair) in Brisbane and had been around a lot of livestock. We went into the "stuff to declare" line and the guy just waved us through. No questions, no inspections, no liquor tax to pay, no suitcase sniffing dogs, nothing. We kept expecting agents to pounce on us as we were leaving but nothing ever happened.

Jetstar apparently enforces ALL it's rules to the letter. 20kg is the limit - they then charge per kilo over. Their 30 minute check in policy is also enforced - 1 minute late to the desk and you're off the lfight anf have to book and pay for the next one. Virgin Blue are slightly less strict - but you won't get away with kilos and kilos more or massive carryons. Qantas are the most lenient - but it does depend on how full the flight is.

Now I am miffed as all hell! John from Miami has written in and not written to me - boo hoo!
Anyway to answer glk11b's original question, which was answered in part by John from Miami, when coming from overseas any extra lbs of luggage that you are entitled to bring with an International carrier will be charged to Qantas in the Jetstar instance - that is if you came in with Qantas and are going Jetstar but they do insist on their lighter weight limits. What they do with other airlines I do not know though but I really think that if you are an International flyer then travelling domestically there will be an allowance made accordingly, depending on your International allowance.
As for weighing of hand luggage - in about 300 trips that I have made I think I have had my hand luggage weighed only once and that was because we had a large bag having come from overseas. All that was needed then was that we were given a small zipped bag by Qantas and the other one was taken to be loaded with the larger stuff. Never has it been routine to weigh hand luggage. Of course if you stick your hand luggage on the scales they will weigh it!

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I told my wife about all of the great and helpful suggestions offered here. Checked prices of those quick drying undies and shirts, etc. She was quite impressed and said, "Well since you are cutting way back I can put my excess in your bag". Oh well. Thanks (seriously). Jerry

Happy Travels!

My "Star Alliance Gold" freq flier card allows me an extra 20kg bag at no charge on ANZ and I think Qantas as well. But, I'm still going to TRY to travel light to OZ next week as I am flying on Virgin Blue on one segment, from Cairns to SYD.

I really appreciate all the tips on packing light! My hubby wears TravelSmith all the time and keeps trying to get me to try some of their clothes. I wonder if I can get super fast service!!! I'm packing next Wed.

I don't think Qantas is part of the star alliance so I'd be surprised if your gold card cut much ice

Just returned from Oz last month and had several in country flights. We did have our luggage put on a scale at each check-in. What happened was that my husband's bag was always over limit so they would brand it with a bright orange sticker that said "over weight". This was done primarily for the handlers so they didn't throw out a back or arm when tossing the bags on the plane.

They didn't seem to care much, just commented on how heavy the bag was.

-Amanda

Live in Australia and have never found the 20 Kg Max strictly enforced travelling qantas.Any bag over 25KG gets a 'heavy' sticker. They will not let you have a bag over 30-32 KG (not sure which) due to saftey handling regulations.Know this a my father in law had to repack at the airport due to a bag being to heavy to lift. Do no know about Jetstar they are such a new airline. I do know they WILL weigh all carry on luggage in Melbourne. This is not a airline thing but is carried out once you go through the international section of the airport. My best bet is keep it light anyway otherwise you will be sorry after the first week of trying to make connections. I reinforce Australia is very casual and you do not need any 'going out ' clothes. Have a great trip.